Vehicle

2004 Chevrolet Tahoe LS 4WD 4dr SUV (4.8L 8cyl 4A)

Review

I bought this fully loaded Z71 as a demonstrator in November, 2004. A local baseball celebrity had driven it 3,200 miles in six months. The truck is great to drive--quiet, lots of power, and acceptable fuel economy for the vehicle size. I occasionally tow a utility trailer with my dirt bikes (about 1,000 lbs) and you don't even realize it is behind the truck. Unfortunately, the truck only has 35k miles and it has been rather troublesome. The battery completely died several times during the first winter (computer software update fixed it), the steering intermediate shaft has failed twice (20 & 25k), the 4WD system failed (33k--encoder motor) and the water pump is now leaking (35k).

Favorite Features

Engine power is awesome. Quiet, comfortable ride. It is a superb family hauler.

Suggested Improvements

Build it to last longer than the warranty. This would be a great truck if it stayed together. The build quality is below average (body panel fit and interior fit is rather poor) and the (un)reliability is simply unacceptable.

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